Christmas at Stratford Hall

Colonial Heritage Society Dancers

Christmas at Stratford will be held only one day this year, on Saturday, December 12, and will run from 12:00 noon until 8:00 p.m. The Great House and Visitor Center will open to the public at noon. NEW THIS YEAR: From 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m., we will have a variety of children's activities in the Visitor Center, including Christmas crafts and visits with Santa Claus. We will also take photos of your children with Santa Claus and print them for $1 each. Each child will receive a free snow globe at the Gift Shop. This family-oriented portion of the day will also include fun activities in the area around the Great House, where children and parents can learn about Christmas at Stratford during the time that the Lees lived here.

Visitors enjoy the Bonfire

At 4:30 p.m., visitors can visit the Great House to learn about Christmas in the 18th century. The evening will begin with refreshments and entertainment by Gilmore's Light Ensemble in the Visitor Center. Then, as you travel across the bridge to the gift shop area, you will enjoy a bonfire where you will meet your guide. From there you will step back into Colonial times as you are guided to the outdoor kitchen to discover how food was prepared for the Lees and their guests. African-American foodways historian Michael Twitty will give demonstrations of open hearth cooking methods. Your guide will then take you through parts of the Great House, where you will see how the food was served and view the festivities with the Lees' guests in the Great Hall where the Rappahannock Colonial Heritage Society will entertain with period dancing.

Ready for Christmas Dinner

Dinner Information A special Christmas dinner will be served in the Stratford Hall Dining Room, with seating times at 12:00 noon, 2:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. The cost of the meal is $50.00 (ages 12 and up), $25.00 (ages 6-11), and children age 5 and under are free. This price includes a $10.00 tour ticket, dinner and beverage, tax and gratuity. Dinner is by reservation only. Please call (804)493-8038, ext. 9696, or e-mail doh@stratfordhall.org for meal information and dinner reservations. Reservations are by credit card only, and the credit card will be charged for the full amount one week prior to the dinner. The dinner menu consists of Crab Bisque, Prime Rib, Sliced Virginia Baked Ham & Country Ham, Roasted Red Potatoes, Rice Pilaf with dried Cranberries and Walnuts, Candied Carrots, Seasoned Green Beans, Homemade Biscuits, Yeast Rolls, Pecan Pie, Red Velvet Cake, Fruit Cake, Coconut Cake, Iced Tea or Coffee. We will be offering Fried Oysters for purchase to be served a la carte. Our local, fresh oysters, lightly fried and served with cocktail sauce, will be cooked to order. You can order as many as your like, and our servers will bring them to your table for your enjoyment. Wine and Beer are available for purchase upon request.

Regular ticket information For visitors who want to take the house tour only and participate in the family activities, tickets can be purchased for $10.00 (adult age 12 and up) and $5.00 (children 6-11) and children 5 and under free at the ticket house upon arrival at Stratford Hall. FOSH members do not get in free for this special event. Register in the Gift Shop for a drawing for a Stratford Lantern valued at $55. For information about the tour and children's activities, please call Laura Lawfer at 804-493-8038, ext. 1920 or e-mail llawfer@stratfordhall.org.